Tag: Single Cask Nation

Single Cask Nation 24-Year Bourbon

If you’ve ever wondered how bourbon aged in Scotland might taste, Single Cask Nation has you covered. Of course, the real question is: Is it any good? Twelve years in Kentucky followed by twelve years in Scotland … that’s a long time for barreled cornwater. This could get oaky.

Pour: Single Cask Nation KSBW (undisclosed distillery)
Proof: 94.8
Age: 24 years
Color: mahogany
Nose: vanilla bean, heavily steeped herbal tea, blood orange
Taste: smoky caramel, pipe tobacco, cherry cordials
Finish: moderate length – sweet oak char, black licorice, leather 

Overall: Damn, that’s complex. Curiously easy on the palate too. For a rumored “pre-fire” bourbon, SCN’s 24-year rarity isn’t exactly dusty in profile. It isn’t modern either. It’s gracefully confounding: robust, delicate, dense, intelligent.

Rating: Heavenly hills of flavor.

Single Cask Nation Invergordon 46

Joshua Hatton and Jason Johnstone-Yellin of J&J Spirits sure have a way of finding unique casks. Today’s pour is no exception, a 46-year single grain whisky produced by the Scottish Highland’s Invergordon Distillery. It’s the oldest whisky I’ve tasted to date. Sláinte!

Pour: Single Cask Nation Invergordon 46
Proof: 92.4 (46.2% ABV)
Age: 46 years
Color: pale gold
Nose: butter pecan ice cream, waffle cone, white grape
Taste: Necco wafer, wheat cracker, zesty candied pear
Finish: moderate length – grapefruit, confectioners sugar, almond shell

Overall: Wrapping my head around this profile is no easy task. On one hand there’s ample sweetness composed of white fruit and confectionery charm. On the other, particularly the finish, there’s a distracting bitterness. A fun experience, though not my favorite.

Rating: Quirky.

Special thanks to Malt Review’s Taylor Cope for the generous sample.